Machine for performing successive operations on materials



J. J. MILLER MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS 0N MATERIALS Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM eJ M J. J. MILLER 2,211,285

MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS ON MATERIALS Aug. 13, 1940.

Filed May 11, 1938 e Shets-$het 13 4 J. J. MILLER I MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUGCESSIVE OPERATIONS 0N MATERIALS Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 gig-g @r ATTORNEY.

MACHiNE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS 0N MATERIALS Filed May 11. 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

m: Julius JMLZZZI' 6 I 47 flifi ATTORNEY. l

J. J. MILLER Aug. 13, 1940.

MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSIVE OEERATIONS ON MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 11, 1938 J. J. MILLER Aug. 13, 1940.

MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS 0N MATERIALS Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Jdzw Jflz, [Zer ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 STATS PATENT MACHINE FOR PERFORMING SUCCESSKVE OPERATIONS ON MATERIALS 24. Claims.

This invention relates to machinery for making wirebound box blanks, or similar blanks, and more particularly to machines of this kind that are provided with a plurality of staplers that trol for preventing the driving of staples in th spaces between blanks.

Fig. '7 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of the ratchet device shown at the left in Fig. 6 of the drive the necessary staples in the blanks, as the drawings, for feeding the staple wire. latter move along toward the end of the machine Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section on line 8--8 from which the finished blanks are discharged. in Fig. 7 of the drawings, showing said ratchet Generally stated, the object of the invention is device. to provide a novel and improved construction Fig. 9 is a plan view in diagram of the cam and arrangement for predetermining the points groove of the automatic controlling mechanism 10 of insertion of the staples on the blanks, thereby by, which the positioning of the staples on the to avoid the insertion of staples at points where blanks is controlled. such insertion would not be desirable, and to Fig. 10 is an edge View of one of the blanks. do this in a manner obviating the necessity of Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view on using certain expedients heretofore considered line lll| in Fig. l of the drawings, showing necessary for this purpose, and. tending to inthe automatic control. sure more satisfactory results than heretofore. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of certain portions More specifically considered, the object of the shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings,;showing the invention is to provide a novel and improved endless link belt of said automatic control. construction whereby the positioning of the sta- Fig. 13 is a perspective view of certain portions ples on the blanks is automatically controlled by of the machine, illustrating the feeding and guidmoving the staplers, which latter travel a dising means for causing the blanks to move contintance with the blanks, either forward or backuously forward under the staplers. ward, longitudinally of the machine, while the Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are diagrammatic views blanks are moving continuously forward under illustrating the difierent positions assumed by the staplers, thereb insuring the desired posithe staplers, while actually driving the staples, as tioning of the staples on the blanks, in accorda result of the automatic control exercised over ance with the size and shape and character of these staplers by the automatic control devices the latter, but without changing or varying the provided on the machine. timing of the vertical stroke of the staple drivers. Fig. 1'7 is a perspective of a box made from one It is also an object to provide certain details of the blanks made on the machine shown and and novel features of construction and combinadescribed. tions tending to increase the general efiiciency As thus illustrated, Figs. 1 and 2, the invention and desirability of a box blank machine of this comprises a machine body or frame I, suitably particular character. supported on base portions 2 and 3 that rest on To the foregoing and other useful ends, the the floor of the plant or shop in which the mainvention consists in matters hereinafter set forth chine is used. This body frame preferably comand claimed and shown in the accompanying prises two side members, in the form of castings, drawings, in whichthat are connected together in any suitable man- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a box blank maner, as by a bar 4, at their tops, so that they are 40 chine embodying the principles of the invention. held parallel.

Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse section on line At the opposite ends of the body frame, sup- 2-2 in Fig. l of the drawings. ported in suitable bearings, there are transverse Fig. 3 is a, detail vertical section on line 33 shafts 5 and 6 disposed in the same horizontal in Fig. 2 of the drawings. plane and provided with suitable sprockets on Fig. 4 is a perspective of certain portions of the which the feed belts I are mounted or supported, said machine, including the side frame and the which belts feed the blanks in any suitable or staplers, with the automatic control shown at desired or known manner, side guides 8 being the extreme left. provided to prevent lateral displacement of the Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view on line blanks. These feed belts, which are common and 5-5 in Fig. 4 of the drawings, showing one of well known, serve to positively feed the cleats the rack a d pinion devices for ut ma l y 9 and the sheets It of the blanks continuously, adjusting the staplers. toward the discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain portions The two side frames are connected together by of the said machine, showing the automatic conthe main transverse shaft l I, which latter is con- III nected by a chain belt H. with the gearing I 3. which latter is connected by a chain belt I4 with the shaft 5, so that the latter is driven continuously at the desired rate of speed for feeding the blanks along the horizontal path of travel thus provided for them on the body frame of the machine. The shaft ii is driven by a chain belt from the shaft i6, which latter is transversely mounted in bearings on the body frame, parallel with the shaft H, and the shaft i6 is driven by an ordinary belt H, or from any source of power. In this way, the feed belts l for feeding the blanks are given a continuous feeding motion by power communicated to them from the shaft l'l, so that the blanks will travel to the left in the direction indicated by the arrow I8, thus giving the workers time to lay the cleats and the sheets on the feed belts, so that they will then pass under the staplers and ultimately be discharged at the left end of the machine.

A plurality of staplers IS are provided on the machine, and operated by the main shaft l l, in any suitable or well known manner, thereby to staple the sheets to the cleats, and to staple the binding wires 28 in place as well. These staplers are carried by a frame composed of the cross bars 2i and 22 and the vertical links which latter have their upper ends mounted to swing on the shaft ii, previously described, and the upper ends of the links are preferably interconnected by a bar 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thus, the shaft H, by its rotation, actuates the staplers up and down, to form and drive the staples, in the ordinary and well known manner.

However, in addition, these staplers have a swinging motion, back and forth, longitudinally of the machine, inasmuch as the bar 25 is connected by a link 25 with a crank arm 26 on the rock shaft 2?, which latter extends transversely of the machine and is mounted in bearings 28 and the latter being mounted to slide in a plane horizontally and longitudinally of the machine. An excentric pitman 39 connects the shaft H with the crank arm 3|, which latter is rigid with the crank arm 26, so that the rotation of the shaft serves also to rock the shaft 2? and thereby swing the stapler frame and the staplers thereon back and forth longitudinally of the machine, whereby the staplers are made to travel a distance with the blanks during the actual insertion of the staples therein. By using con-- tinuous feed for the blanks, the speed of the machine is increased, over and above what it would be with an intermittent feed, but with the blanks moving continuously, it is desirable to have the staplers move with them a distance during the actual insertion. of the staples in the materials. As soon as the staples are inserted, then the staplers swing back to the o posite end of the are which they traverse in the back and forth swinging movement.

In order that the staples may be positioned on the blanks, at predetermined desirable points thereon, the shaft 21 is moved bodily back and forth. in a plane horizontally,longitudinally of the machine, o that the are of travel of the staplers is moved one way or the other. and this causes tle staples to be driven at the desired points in. the work. The timing of the stapledriving is not changed. inasmuch as the rotation of the shaft if is not varied or controlled, but only the back and forth swinging movement of the staplers. The shifting of the shaft 2?, one way or the other, to automatically position the which latter operate in a horizontal plane or. are arrang d to engage the rack bar 30 that transversely of the machine, and that is movable endwise, thereby to cause the shifting of the blocks 28 and 29 in a plane horizontally and longitudinally of the machine. In order to operate the bar 39 endwise, it is provided on its under side with a roller i=3 that engages the cam groove 36, previously mentioned. The formaion of the groove will cause the roller it to move laterally, and this will cause the rack bar 39 to move endwise, which will rotate the pinions and 38, and thereby move the bearing blocks 28 and 2B in a plane horizontally and longitudinally of the machine, thus changing the position of the shaft 2?, and thereby changing the position of the staplers. The latter will still have the same extent of swing or longitudinal stroke, but the arc of travel will be shifted one way or the other, in effect longitudinally of the machine. and the consequence is that the staplers may be exactly vertical while inserting the staples as shown in Fig. 14, or may be swung in one direction as shown in Fig. 15, or may be inclined in the opposite direction as shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. This means that if the exact vertical position of the stapler, as shown in Fig. 14, is not calculated to insert the staple at the desired point in the materials, then the automatic control, provided by the cam groove 36, will swing the stapler a little forward or a little backward, so that, instead of inserting the staple at the point M as shown in Fig. 14, it will be inserted at the point 42 as shown in Fig. 15, or at the point 33 as indicated in Fig. 1.6 of the drawings which means that the point of insertion will be changed or varied longitudinally of the blank, in order that staples here and there may not be inserted at undesirable points. But this is done,

driving of stapling shaft ll is not controlled in any way, but is driven at a constant speed. which means that the timing is not advanced or retarded, but merely that the lower end of the stapler is automatically swung either one way or the other to avoid the insertion of the staple at an undesirable point in the materials, but practically without changing the time or moment of driving.

In addition, the blocks are provided with lugs 44 for engaging a rod 45, to move the latter endwise, thereby to rock the bell crank 48 and the link connections ll, 48 and 49 in a manner to oscillate or automatically adjust the shield or shroud 58 provided on the ratchet device by which the wire is fed to each stapler. These ratchet feed devices are well known, and well understood, and do not need any further description or illustration thereof, and it is common to control these ratchet feed devices to prevent the feeding of wire to the staplers at moments when it is not desired to form and drive any staples. The shield or shroud 5 3 simply blocks the action of the ratchet dog, so that the wire does not feed,

but in the present case this is done by the action of the same belt 32 that automatically controls the swinging stroke of the staplers. The lugs 44 are positioned on the blocks of the belt 32 in a manner to prevent action of the ratchet feed that supplies the wire to the staplers, at the proper time, so that, without stopping the operation of the staplers, no staples will be formed and driven at certain points on the work, as between the ends of adjacent blanks, or at other places, and thus the mechanical control by which the swinging motion of the staplers is automatically controlled is also employed for automatically controlling the ratchet devices by which the wire is fed to the staplers.

It will be understood that different sets of chains and blocks, similar to the chain 32 and the blocks 35, will be supplied and provided for blanks of different shapes and sizes, so that, by substituting one chain for another, the same machine can be used for short runs of blanks of different kinds. The link belt 32 and its blocks 35 may be said to provide a sort of self control for predetermining the positions of the staples on the blanks, in accordance with the character of the materials, and the shapes and sizes of the blanks, and in addition the lugs 44 will automatically prevent the forming and driving of staples in the spaces between the adjacent ends of blanks, or at other places, so that the entire automatic control is embodied in a link belt and its set of blocks and lugs, and there can be as many different belts as there are different shapes or sizes of blanks to be made on the machine. For some purposes, the link belt 32 might be necessarily longer than the one shown and described, or it might be shorter, and for this purpose it will be seen that a plate 5!, with a slot 52, is provided, as a mounting for the sprockets on which the belt 32 is supported, so that this belt may be either longer or shorter, as the character of the blanks may require.

It will be understood that any suitable, known or desiredmeans can be employed for feeding the binding wires to the blanks, to be stapled in place thereon, in the usual and well known manner.

It is obvious, of course, that the invention is susceptible of definition in terms of process or method, as well as in terms of apparatus or machinery. As a process, it contemplates the establishment of a normal driving or insertion position, for the staples, relative to the machine itself, and the automatic moving or shifting of this position alternately forward and back, or in opposite directions, longitudinally of the direction of feed of the blanks, the motion of the latter being continuous. Also, it will be seen that the method involves a constant or non-variable timing for the driving or insertion of the staples, as the staple drivers have a predetermined timing, regardless of the shifting of the driving or in-. sertion position. Also, practically, the continuous fee-ding motion of the blanks is preferably constant, and with that characteristic only the driving or insertion position of the staples is variable, and not fixed or constant, as both the timing of the driving and the timing of the feeding motion of the blanks remains constant. This results, of course, in an irregular spacing of the successive staples on the blanks, as the staples are not all driven in the same position relative to the machine itself. Absolute regularity of spacing of the successive staples, on the blanks, might obviously result in locating staples at undesired points on the blanks, and hence the irregularity of spacing serves to avoid any such undersirable insertion of staples, and enables the process or method to serve effectively for the purpose of locating successive staples at predetermined 5 points on the blanks, each of which points is suitable for the insertion of a staple. Of course, when the driving or insertion position is moved forward or back, the driving angle is necessarily changed, as shown, because of the swinging mo- 10 tion of the staplers about the overhead axis of the shaft ll shown in the drawings. When staples are driven or insei ted at the normal position, relatively to the machine itself, the driving or insertion direction is at right angles to the 15 stapling mechanism (see the different driving 25 angles indicated in Figs. 14, 15, and 16), relatively to the machine itself, can be accomplished by any suitable known or desired means, without departing from the spirit of the invention. However, the automatic control shown and described, by which the driving or insertion position of the staplers is moved either forward or back, or in opposite directions, longitudinally of the feed of the blanks, is illustrative of one form of such control, of a purely mechanical character.

It will be seen, therefore, that the rotation of the shaft H, and the timing of the staple driving strokes, remains constant and regular and unchanged, during the variation of the stapling position, for said shaft continues to run at a predetermined constant speed during such variation. Also, the speed of travel of the feed belts 1 remains constant and unchanged, during such variation of the stapling position, as this variation in no way affects the predetermined speed of travel of said belts, and hence the stapling position, relative to the machine itself, is the only thing that is automatically changed or varied in order to insure insertion of the staples at predetermined regular or irregular points on the traveling blanks.

As indicated in Figs. 14, 15, and 16, the driving position of the stapling mechanism, or its driving angle, so to speak, changes or varies, longitudinally of the machine, in order to place the staples at predetermined points in the blanks. While the forward and back stroke of the stapling mechanism, over the blanks, is on the arc of a circle struck from the axis of the shaft ll overhead, it is nevertheless true that the shifting of the stapling mechanism is substantially or in effect longitudinally of the machine, as it must be that in order to drive the staples either exactly on time, as indicated in Fig. 14, or a little ahead of time, so to speak, as indicated in Fig. 15, or a little behind, as indicated in Fig. 16 of the drawings, for in these figures the blanks are supposed to be traveling to the left. The back and forth stroke of the stapling mechanism, and the length of such stroke, does not change, as the terminals of said stroke remain a fixed distance apart, regardless of whether the stroke is moved ahead or backward, as the back and forth stroke is determined by the oscillation or rocking movement of the shaft 21, and this does not change, as the 7 excentrically operated pitman 3!! has the same up and down stroke, practically, in any position of the stapling mechanism, when the latter is moved forv-Jard or back by the shifting of the bearings 28 and 29 in which the shaft 2i is sup-- ported for rotation. Thus, in effect, the driving position, or the stapling position, is shifted longi tudinally of the machine, as shown and described, but the swinging stroke of the stapling mecharemains constant, as the terminals of such stroke remain a fixed distance apart, notwithstanding that the stroke in its entirety is automatically moved one or the other, in the manner shown and described, to automatically locate the staples at predetermined points on the blanks.

While only one use for the invention been shown and described, which is the stapling of wirebound box blanks, it is obvious that the invention can be used in different fields, for different purposes, for performing successive operations of any suitable or desired character, on any suitable or desired materials, by in effect shifting the point of operation longitudinally of the direction. of the feeding motion, and hence the invention can be used for other purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The points of insertion of the staples are changed, automatically, on the work, and it is this automatic shifting or adjusting of the points of insertion that results in either regular or irregular spacing of the staples, longitudinally of the machine, in the manner and for the purpose explained, and while the said points of insertion are automatically changed, during the running of the machine, it is nevertheless true that the timing of the overhead stapling shaft 5 l and the feeding movements of the feed belts i remain constant.

Thus, as shown and described, the overhead transverse shaft l l rotates continuously at a fixed or constant speed, and this is also true of the shaft 5 that causes the feeding motion of the box blank materials. and the same is true of the shaft that causes the stapling operation to move along with the materials, for each of these three shafts is driven or rotated continuously at a constant speed, notwithstanding that instru operations to be spaced either regularly or irregularly on the blanks or other materials.

l ihat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine for stapling blanks, the combination of means for feeding the blank materials continuously longitudinally of the chine, stapling mechanism supported in position to operate upon the moving blank materials, devices for causing said mechanism to move back and forth longitudinally of the machine, so that each staple will be inserted while moving a distance with the materials, instrumentalities operable only while the machine is running for automatcally controlling and changing the driving posi n of said mechanism, longitudinally of the machine, to change the points of staple insertion longitudinally of the path of feeding motion of the work, while maintaining the length of said stroke of said mechanism, and power operated means on the machine for operating said mechnism and devices and instrumentalities in predetermined sequence.

2. Astructurc as specified in claim Loomprising means whereby the back and forth or longitudinal stroke of the stapling mechanism is on an arc formed about a transverse overhead fixed axis, so that the direction of insertion of staples, because of said automatic control, may be vertical or more or less oblique.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said instrumentalities comprising a device providing a cam groove, with means engaging said cam groove to control and vary the driving position of said mechanism.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with means for feeding a staple wire to said mechanism, and means on said instrumentaltities for controlling the staple wire feed, to prevent the forming and driving of staples in the spaces between blanks or at other places.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said devices comprising a rock shaft for swinging said mechanism forward and back about a transverse overhead axis, and said instrumentalities being operative to shift said rock shaft longitudinally of the path of travel of the blank, thereby to change the driving position of said mechanism.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said power means being operative to maintain the operation of said mechanism constant and unvaried, notwithstan ing the changing of the driving or insertion position of said mechanism by said instrtunentalities.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said power means comprising an overhead transverse shaft supported to rotate about a fixed axis, for operating said stapling mechanism, said shaft being also connected to actuate said devices, in any changed driving position of the said mechanism.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said instrumentalities comprising a transverse rack bar, pinions nounted to rotate about vertical axes engaging said rack bar, and parallel longitudinal racks engaging said pinions.

In a machine for making box blanks, by feeding the blanks continuously below a continuously operating and forward and back movstapling mechanism, the combination of means for maintaining the timing of the operation of said mechanism constant, means for .iaintaining the length of forward and back stroke of the mechanism constant, means for maintaining the timing of said stroke constant, means for maintaining the blank feeding motion constant, and instrumentalities controlled automatically in the operation of the machine to change the points of insertion and therefore the spacing of the staples inserted in the blanks.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, said instrumentaliti s having means operating automatically n the operation of the machine to shift the ten inals of said forward and back stroke, while 'naintaining a fixed distance between said terminals, and while said timing remains constant.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, in which said forward and back stroke is on the arc of a circle struck from a fixed overhead transverse axis, so that said are is automatically moved forward or back, to change the spacing, while said timing remains constant, and while said axis remains in its fixed position.

12. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination with automatic means operated by the operation of said instmmentalities to prevent attempted operation of said mechanism on any spaces in the materials.

13. A structure as specified in claim 1, in com- Si l Iii

bination with automatic means operated by the operation of said instrumentalities to prevent attempted operation of said mechanism on any spaces in the materials.

14. In a machine for performing successive operations on materials, the combination of means for feeding the materials, mechanism for perform the successive operations on the materials, at predetermined successive points thereon, and devices serving automatically to shift said mechnism longitudinally of the direction of said feeding motion, operative only during operation of said feeding means, thereby changing the operating position of said mechanism, and serving to change the points of operation and therefore the spacing thereof on the materials.

15. A structure as specified in claim 14, said mechanism being also movable a distance with the materials while performing each operation thereon, in any automatically adjusted position thereof.

16. A structure as specified in claim 14, said feeding motion being continuous, and remaining constant for different automatic adjustments of said mechanism, and the consequent different spacing of the points of operation on the materials.

17. A structure as specified in claim 14, in combination with automatic means operated by the operation of said machine to prevent attempted operation of said mechanism on any spaces in the materials.

18. A stapling machine in which the timing of the operation of all elements thereof is constant in speed but in which automatic means operable only when the machine is operating are provided to change the points of actual insertion and thereby the spacing between successive staples inserted in the work, while the machine is running.

19. A structure as specified in claim 18, said machine being equipped to make wirebound box blanks, by continuous feed of the blanks, and said automatic means serving to change the points of insertion of the staples, to change the spacing of the staples on different blanks, or on different sections of the same blank.

20. A structure as specified in claim 18, in combination with separate means operated by the operation of said machine to prevent the attempted driving of staples in any spaces in the Work.

21. A machine for feeding and performing successive operations on materials, in which means are provided whereby the timing of the feeding motion remains constant, but in which automatic means operable only when the machine is operating are provided to change the points of operation and thereby the spacing thereof on said materials, and mechanical means to maintain the timing of the successive operations constant.

22. A machine equipped for performing successive stapling operations on moving materials, comprising a transverse overhead shaft that rotates continuously at a constant speed to perform said operations, a transverse shaft that rotates continuously at a constant speed to cause the materials to move continuously at a constant speed, and instrumentalities wholly mechanical and operated by the operation of the machine and operable only when said shafts are rotating to automatically control the stapling operations and thereby space the driven staples regularly or irregularly on the materials while maintaining constant the continuous feeding motion thereof.

23. A structure as specified in claim 22, comprising a transverse shaft and means to rotate said shaft continuously at a fixed or constant speed to in effect cause the stapling operation to move with the materials.

24. A structure as specified in claim 22, comprising a transverse shaft and means to rotate said shaft continuously at a fixed or constant speed to in effect cause the stapling operation to move with the materials, said instrumentalities comprising means for automatically shifting said last mentioned shaft and thereby the stapling operation either forward or back longitudinally of the path of travel of the materials.

JULIUS J. MILLER. 

